John Steinbeck was born in Salinas. The massive center honoring his life sits in the small central California town. But the public library named after him along with the only 2 others in Salinas will be shutting it's doors as part of a budget crisis that will also reduce the police force, downsize the fire department and mothball all public recreation programs. Salinas will become the largest city in the country with no public library.

It's a sad day for democracy when public libraries are closing their doors. But the combination of changes in Salinas, at the same time reducing protective services and shutting down public recreation and leisure, is a recipe for disaster. I think it's safe to predict that something horrible is going to happen in Salinas in the not too distant future.